Kalima e Shahadat in Arabic: اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَّآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهٗ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُوْلُهٗ
Kalima e Shahadat Transliteration: Ashadu an lā ilāha illā-llāh waḥdahu lā sarīka lahu, wa ashadu anna muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluhu
Kalima e Shahadat English Translation: “I bear witness that (there is) no god except Allah; One is He, no partner hath He, and I bear witness that Muhammad (ﷺ) is His Servant and Messenger.”
Kalima e Shahadat or kalima e Shahadah is the second kalima out of the six kalimas in Islam. It is also known as "Shahadat" or "bearing witness to faith." It declares the oneness of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and the finality of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as the His last messenger. Kalima e Shahadat encapsulates Islam’s central doctrine of Tawheed. It negates the existence of four things in Islam: Shirk, Shak, Tashbih, and Tatil. Shirk means to associate someone with Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى). Shak means the doubts and uncertainty in religion. Tashbih is to connect or associate Allah(سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) to an imaginary creature. Tatil means denying that Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) has a role in the creation of everything and everything came into existence by itself.
Shahadah is central to the Islamic faith. Therefore, anytime is the best time to recite this kalima. However, here are the masnoon (the best) times to recite kalima e Shahadat:
When an individual is reverting to Islam, they must recite Shahadah, i.e., the kalima e Shahadat to enter Islam and become a Muslim.
The Adhan is recited into the right ear of the newborn baby, which contains the Shahadah.
Narrated Ubaidullah bin Abi Rafi' that his father said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say the Adhan in the ear of Al-Hasan bin' Ali - when he was born to Fatimah - the Adhan of Salat." (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1514)
One of the best and most appropriate times to recite the kalima e Shahadat Tasbih is when a Muslim performs wudu. However, be mindful that the Shahadah or any other kalima, Quranic verse, or hadith should not be recited in the washroom/toilet. You may recite the kalima e Shahadat if you are performing wudu in a clean area dedicated only to wudu. It was narrated that ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) said:
"Whoever performs Wudu’ and does it well, then says: “Ashhadu an la ilaha ill-Allah was ashhadu anna Muhammadan' abduhu wa rasuluh (I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is his servant and Messenger),” eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and he may enter through whichever one he wishes.' – (Sunan an-Nasa'i 148)
The Shahdah is incorporated in the Adhan which is called before each prayer. The best dua for Adhan is to repeat the words of the Adhan after the muezzin.
Narrated Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Whenever you hear the Adhan, say what the Mu'adh-dhin is saying. (Sahih al-Bukhari 611)
One easy way to create a habit of reciting this beautiful and important tasbih is by reciting it after each fard namaz. You can use the Muslim and Quran online tasbih counter to recite kalima e shahadat 33 or 100 times after each Namaz.
When a Muslim is near death - It is also directed for a Muslim man and woman to recite the kalima e Shahadat when they are drawing their last breaths, and they feel that their death is near. It is also instructed for Muslims to recite Shahadah for their dying fellow Muslims if they are near their deathbed.
It was narrated by Mu'adh bin Jabal (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ)ُ, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: “If anyone's last words are "There is no god but Allah" he will enter Paradise.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3116).
Eight doors of Jannah are opened for those who recite kalima e shahadat after wudu - The prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said that 8 doors of Jannah will be opened for whoever testifies to Allah’s oneness and bears witness that Muhammad is his servant and last prophet (gives Shahadah). – (Sunan an-Nasa'i 148). Those who recite kalima e shahadat on their deathbed will enter paradise – The hadith of Sunan an-Nasa’I quoted above states that a Muslim who recites the Shahadah before dying will be allowed to enter paradise.
Users can easily recite Kalima e Shahadat tasbih on the Muslim and Quran app and website. Open the app or website, select the Tasbihat page, and then select Kalima e Shahadat. You can use the digital rosary beads to keep count of the number of times you recite this tasbih. You can also change the design of the rosary beads, reset the counter, and view your tasbih history.
We know the spiritual and religious significance of the kalimas and tasbihs, such as kalima e shahadat, and their standings in Islam. It defines the entire belief system of a muslim and thus is utterly important to be incorporated into one’s life. The Muslim and Quran app and website have made it seemingly convenient for anyone to access these kalimas and tasbihs and recite and understand them.
